- Published:
- Tuesday 2 June 2026 at 7:30 pm
With fires and floods happening more frequently, Labor is making sure emergency services have the tools they need to keep Victorians safe.
More funding for emergency services
The Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) is one part of total funding provided to emergency services each year.
Further funding is provided every year over and above what is collected through the Fund.
Labor has doubled investment in emergency services and this year Labor is investing more than $2.4 billion in emergency services – with $1.6 billion from the ESVF.
In 2026/27, the ESVF will deliver:
- an extra $46 million to Country Fire Authority (total of $358 million).
- an extra $29 million to Victorian State Emergency Services (total of $102 million).
- an extra $68 million to Fire Rescue Victoria (total of $829 million).
This is only one part of these agencies funding, with funding above the ESVF delivered every year.
Details about ESVF
The ESVF variable rates will be frozen for all Victorians.
Eligible CFA and VICSES volunteers and life members will continue to receive a rebate on their ESVF – meaning they either pay less or nothing at all when compared to the Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL).
Farmers will continue to pay the same or less than what they paid under the FSPL.
The variable rate for Primary Production Land will stay at 28.7c per $1,000 of capital improved value (CIV).
Farmers who volunteer will also continue to receive a tax cut, with the rebate now applying in full on Primary Production Land up to $10 million CIV.
Liberals plan for emergency services
Jess Wilson’s Liberals and Danny O’Brien’s Nationals have a plan to cut $40 billion from the services Victorians rely on – including repeatedly stating they’ll “scrap” the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.
This means fewer trucks, fewer stations and no volunteer rebate.
Their cuts plan will slash brigade support officers and incident controllers.
When the Liberals and Nationals were last in Government, they cut the CFA.
The former National Emergency Service Minister said “no Government department can be exempt from Budget cuts” and if given the chance, they will do it again.
Access the rebate at: service.vic.gov.au/find-services/housing-and-property/eligible-volunteers-rebate-scheme.
Quotes Attributable to Treasurer Jaclyn Symes
“Every dollar of the Fund is invested back into the emergency services that help keep Victorians safe.”
“The Nationals and Liberals have already announced they will cut funding to our emergency services which will put the community at risk.”
Quote Attributable to Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward
“Our CFA and VICSES volunteers give up their time to protect and support Victorians. That’s why we’re making sure eligible volunteers will get a rebate in recognition of their service.”